solar panel encapsulation

[pensandcalls]

google oneoceankayaks to see some testing.

this shows testing 6 different epoxy resins. It looks like it is best to put a UV protectant varnish over the epoxy.

[williamblake69]

@pensandcalls i agree, i have had some blushing ( yellow ) on the epoxy, however, it has not effected the voltage/amperage/wattage at all. but in the future, all my panels are getting a UV coating for the final part of the process

[bearhamo]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news as you did enlighten me on how to do this...but the manufacturer of this product contacted me today and this is what they said.

Our 300/21 is not UV resistant, so we do not recommend it for encapsulating solar cells. We will offer a products for solar cell encapsulation in the next few weeks.

Holly

I will be waiting. Thanks for the video showing us to do this. Mine all have condensation as I did them with trapped air behind glass.

[williamblake69]

@bearhamo you are correct, my panels have begun to blush ... from now on, i am using a UV protectant as part of the final process. but this method works very well ..... even with the blushing, voltage/amperage/wattage remain the same

[me001ist]

hi is aeromarine 300 21 like fibre glass resin or is it like sly guard liquid silicone? I live in Australia and cant find aeromarine products here or sly guard and i need a fair bit so iam looking for an equivelent that sells here. I herd that you shouldnt use resin as it can damages the cells.

[williamblake69]

@me001ist ..... yes, aeromarine is a fiber-glass type resin. i have not ran into any problems with it damaging cells, i always use polycrystalline cells, perhaps it has a different reaction with mono-crystalline cells. but i have found it to be the cheapest / most efficient way to encapsulate polycrystalline cells

[nemo5491]

@me001ist as a former windsurfer, and board builder , i always heard that epoxy resins does not support uv rays well...

[tallen99652]

Thank you Verry Much....

[tallen99652]

I am planing to use a grid tie inverter (stackable) so i can save a little on my bill. I would like to charge Batterys later at some time...what is the most Volts that a 12V battery can handle without frying...A good Deep cycle Battery(s)..and how many solar cells to make that panel...3x6 Cells size...Thanks ....

[williamblake69]

@tallen99652 watch my video "solar panel encapsulation 2 " i use 42 3x6 cells ...... 21 volts at about 10 amps ..... and it charges my one optima yellow top deep cycle battery ...... from a dead 11v to 13.5 volts in about 3 hours ...... i am getting another battery soon, and hopefully a grid tie inverter ...... you need at least 300 watts of power to tie into the grid, the panels i make are about 75 watts a piece ..... so i need 4 of them .... i already have 3, but just one on the roof

[tallen99652]

I really understand all that you did and the mixing and pouring...I dont under the wireing and how to get the voltage that i want 12v...and lots of them..I am in Wasilla Alaska and the winter sun is for a very short day..

[williamblake69]

@tallen99652 are you going to be charging a 12v battery? or are you looking to get 12v output from a panel to run something directly? to charge a 12v battery you need at least 18v ..... but the panels i make, are 21v ..... and about 13v on a cloudy day :) .... that is why i dont do the "traditional" 18v panels .... i like to get descent output , even in the shade

[phamx190]

thanks for the fast reply! how about the condition of the ply wood? I have heard that alot of people avoid putting the cells directly on the varnished ply wood because it tends to warp. I figured that first laying down a thin layer of your epoxy mixture first would protect that. i havent made a solar panel yet but am brainstorming on what my first design can be. Thanks for the help!

[phamx190]

to make the cells completely weather proof. do u think that first laying down a thin layer of the epoxy mixture, letting it dry, then put the cells on and then completely encapsulating it would work?

[williamblake69]

@phamx190 i usually lay down a heavy coat of varnish, let it dry for a couple days, then lay the panels and such, my other video show the process in more detail. i live in NY ... and this specific panel has been on the roof since october, in the really cold weather i can get 24 volts @ 12 amps, and it has not degraded at all

[koolb2112]

Very nice looking panel. I see lots of vids out there without encapulation. Now I am convinced that must be done to handle the weather. My question is what is the amount of areomarine 300 epoxy and 21 hardner amounts? 

[williamblake69]

@koolb2112 ..... what i do is measure the height of the liquid in both the full gallon of 300 ..... and the half gallon of 21 ..... i find its half-way point and mark it with a marker ..... so its ... 1/2 gallon of 300 ..... and 1/4 gallon of 21 ...... in the second encapsulation video i made, you can see the marks on the jugs, lol ...... thank you for watching

[mixcatcom]

Great job! Keep up the great work.

-Pete

[williamblake69]

@mixcatcom .... thanks man .... gotta spred the knowledge, you know :)

[walmartgretr]

Nice vid, thank you. What group and song is this playing? Thanks again!

[williamblake69]

@walmartgretr ..... tool --- rosetta stoned ...... thanks for watching :)

[TheKevinvolley]

does this encapsulating mix really works

[williamblake69]

@TheKevinvolley yes, the epoxy is the only fully weatherproof way i have found to do this right, and to stand the test of time, my new video "solar panel encapsulation 2" shows the whole process , start to finish

[StephieLockdown]

Good Job Love! I am very proud of you! <3

[williamblake69]

@StephieLockdown thank you, i should have the frame for the next one done within a week or so, but there has been way too much snow lately, so i probly wont put it on the roof until spring. at least i have a sexy camera-woman ;)